Bumper



July 1, 1941 R. o. HEIN ETAM 2,247,946

BUMPER Filed Aug. 2e, 1957 fem/mi 0. m' JVUHZ Sczefer Patented July 1, 1941 BUMPER Robert O. Hein andNor'bert Shaeffer, Chicago,

Ill., assignorsto Sears, Roebuck and C0., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New York Application August 26, 1937, SerialrNo. 161,000 l5A Claims. l(Cl. 15-257) This invention relates to bumpers and is concerned more particularly with vacuum 'cleaners and other devices susceptible to injury by collision with, and likely to injure, furniture and other bodies. g In the use of a vacuum cleaner and other apparatus moved among furniture and other objects, the casing oftentimes strikes the objects with such force as to injure both.

It is accordingly an object of our invention4 to provide the vacuum cleaneror other movable apparatus adapted to be projected at least partially under furniture or the like with bumper means.

1t is another object to provide a vacuum clean' er or the like dome or other casing with means for protecting the casing against collision injury. Another object is to provide a resilient bumper element adapted to retain itself in assembly with a part to be protected thereby.

A further object is to provide a bumper for the motor casing of a vacuum cleaner or the like,r

It is a'further object to provide a single rubber or the like bumper element adapted toprotect a motor casing dome and provide a protective frame for a utility light in the dome.

Further objects and advantages of the inven-l tion will appear as the description proceeds.

On the accompanying drawing: f

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of a vacuum cleaner equipped with a bodying my invention. y

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary -side elevation of the motor and fan casing of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section through the bumper structure of our invention, taken as indicated by the line 3-3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary sectional views taken as indicated by the lines 5-5 and 6 6, respectively, in Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of the upper portion of the casing.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken as indicated by the line 8 8 in Fig. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, for the purpose of illustration we have shown a vacuum cleaner the operating mechanism of which is housed in a casing I 0 comprising a base o1' substructure I I which may contain the blower or fan (not shown) and a superstructure in the form of a dome I2 adapted to enclose the motor (not shown). The dome I2 is disposed preferbumper emably well to the rear of the front end I3 of the casing base so as to allow said end, which at the bottom has a suction inlet (not shown), to' be projected a substantial distance under davenv: ports and other open bottom furniture and other objects for cleaning thereunder, as indicated at A in Fig. 2. The front and sides of the casing base may bel equipped with a resilient bumper strip B for engagement with parts extending substantially to the floor. A utility lamp (not shown) may be provided behind the Window or opening I4 at the front of the dome.

The vdome I2 because of its projection above the base will collide with raised parts of furniture land other objects as shown at C in Fig. 2,

and unless suitable protection were provi-ded, the colliding members would be marred.l To safeguard against this is a salient object of my invention. y

To this end, the dome may have a groove or channel I6 extending forward and downward from the top I'I and terminating at the'upper side I8y of the ,frame opening I4. At the upper end of the channel there is a hole 20 extending through the dome; l Although this hole may be of any-suitablek shape, it `is preferably dovetailed with increasing width inward as shown in Figs. 3 "and 5. 'The channel may have any suitable shapeand, as shown, may have an enlarged portion'2l of `reduced width adjacent the hole' 2U.

' A bumper embodying our invention may comprise the rubber or other preferably resilient element ,22 of any suitable shape. In the illustratedr embodiment, where the dome has the utility light 'E opening I 4,the bumper element may advantage? ously-have the shape of a `T, with its vstem '23 fitting in the channel I6 and its hollow head 24 tting in the frame opening I4. The free end 26 of the stem may be formed with a downwardly projecting boss 21 shaped preferably to conform with the hole 20 at the top of the dome I2. Accordingly it will be observed that the boss 21 is compressed as it is forced down through the hole 20 to occupy the position shown, where it is firmly anchored to the dome. From this point forward and downward the element is fitted in the channel.

The head 24 of the element may be in the shape of a frame of strip material. The strip may be U-shaped in cross section with the groove 29 opening outwardly and dimensioned to snugly receive the dome edge 30 defining the opening I4. The back flange 3I of the head 24 is an enlargement which cooperates with the dome at the opening I4 in substantially dovetail fashion,

anchoring the lower end of the bumper element to the dome.

It will be observed that the bumper element may be substantially 90 -degrees in extent relative to the dome and, preferably throughout its entire length, the bumper element projects out` ward relative to the adjacent surface portions` The element has a of the dome, as shown at 33. substantially tongue-and-groove connection with the dome and projects forward of the foremost part of the dome so that it aiords protection when a relatively low surface, as seen dotted at C', is struck, and it projects to or slightly above;Y y

the top of the dome so as to aord protection vwhen a relatively high surface, as seendottedI 'at C, is struck.

It is evident that only a moments time is needed toiapply and securely anchor thel bumper,

element to the dome, the element being prefer- Y ably formed to have a rm snug fit. Its outer L We are aware that reversals of parts may-"bel n resorted to, and that many changes maybe made and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departingv from the principles `of this invention, and We therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the prior art.. :V l

' VWeclaim: c. 1- f 1. A vacuum cleaner or the like comprising a dome-like casingY having an opening kin the top thereof Vand a Windowatthe front thereof .for passage vof light from a lamp to be mounted in the casing, and -a rubber or other resilientele-j-4 menthaving a tongue-and-groove fit with said casing Vbetween Said opening and said window and havingV a boss sprung into said opening s01as to; anchor said element, said element havinga reariwardly disposed enlargement sprung through said window and engaged with the rear -side of the casing front so as to'additionally'anchor snaidrel-el.-

ment.

, 2. In combination, a portable tool window opening therein, an elongated entirely ref. silient bumper detachably secured VVon said `tool.

by reason of the distortability of said bumper, said bumper including frame-like means at one end thereof and substantially conforming with and overlapping the edge of said window opening to provide an anchorage for one end of said bumper, said bumper also having an integral enlargement at its opposite end retained by said tool so as to provide an anchorage for that end of the bumper. v

3. In combination, a portable tool having a `window opening therein, an elongated entirely resilient bumper detachably secured on said tool byl reason of the distortability of said bumper,

said bumper including frame-like means at one A:end thereof vand substantially conforming with and overlapping the edge of said window opening vto provide an anchorage for one end of said bumper, saidbumper also having an integral enlargement at its opposite end retained by said tool so as to provide an anchorage for that end of the bumper, said tool and said bumper being formed to .provide interlocking detachable engagement therebetween intermediate of said anchorages. f Y

4. In combination, a portable tool having a windowopening therein and a second opening spaced therefrom, an elongated Aresilient bumper vdetachably secured on-said tool by reason of its distortability, frame-like means integral with said bumper at one end thereof and substantially conforming with'and overlapping the edge of said Window opening to provide an anchorage for one end of saidbumper, said bumper also having an integral enlargement at its opposite end sprung'throughrsaid opening and retained by said tool so as to provide an anchorage for that endof the bumper.l

Y 5. In combination, a` portable tool Vhaving a windowv opening thereiny and a second opening `spaced therefrom, an elongated resilient bumperv detachably secured on said tool by reason of its distortability, frame-like means integral -with said bumper at one end thereof and substantially conforming with andoverlapping thejedge-of said window opening to provide an anchorage for one end of said bumper, said'bumper alsohaving an integralV enlargement at its opposite end sprung through saidopening and retained by said tool so as to provide an anchorage for that end of the bumper, said vtool and said bumper being formed to provide interlocking detachable engagement therebetween intermediate of said anchorages. y

- Y ROBERT O. HEIN.

NORBERTl SHAEFFER.. 

